Performance of crushed rock dust concrete exposed to sulphuric and hydrochloric acid solutions

Abstract

This paper presents the effect of partial substitute of Ordinary Portland Cement 53 grade (OPC) by crushed rock dust (CRD) as filler material in concrete when exposed to 2% and 5% diluted hydrochloric (HCl) and sulfuric (H2SO4) acid solutions. OPC is partially replaced with CRD by: 0%-A40, 10%-A41, 20%-A42, 30%-A43 and 40%-A44 by weight. Visual assessment, mass loss and compressive strength are evaluated at the considered acid attack environment. The loss in compressive strength of CRD concrete has increased gradually with the increase in the CRD. It has been observed that the mass loss (%) and decrease in compressive strength of concrete cube specimens is found to be less in the case of HCl acid attack when compared with H2SO4 acid attack. The use of CRD in concrete as filler material showed comparable trend of decline in the compressive strength of concrete after exposed to both H2SO4 and HCl acid solutions.